Thursday, September 18, 2014

Extern Morgan Marianelli @ NBC Universal

It seems
like ages ago now that I first made the decision to commit to a summer
externship in the spring of my Junior year. I vaguely remembered hearing about
the externship programs in past years and seeing advertisements for them around
campus, but never really felt compelled until now to take the initiative and
apply to one of them. I had already completed an internship at a live
entertainment venue called Komedia while studying abroad in Bath, England,
which, lasting a full semester, I assumed would be far more extensive than
anything I could take away from an externship lasting a mere week. A lot of
people probably do it the other way around and start with an externship before
transitioning into an internship. I questioned whether an externship was really
worth my time and almost let my doubts dissuade me from applying. Less than a
day into my externship, however, I realized how wrong my thinking was and felt
immensely thankful that the opportunity to observe at NBC for a week was open
to Gettysburg College students, and that I was accepted into the program.

My greatest
cause of anxiety before the start of the externship was probably figuring out
how to navigate New York City on my own, and also presenting myself in the most
professional way possible each day to high-end executives. It was more than a
little intimidating walking into the enormous skyscraper in the middle of
Rockefeller Center, getting a pass from security, and making my way up to the
29th floor to meet my externship host, Gettysburg alum Nick Johnson
’90. NBC is a company I have heard about for as long as I can remember, and I
have grown up watching the NBC television network for news and entertainment,
and viewing their content online. However, I initially felt like an outsider
with no inside knowledge trying to insert myself into a major corporation,
which was basically true; however, it didn’t take long to quell my nerves and
start to feel comfortable with the externship as soon as I saw how friendly and
accommodating everyone was. I was afraid I would feel like a burden by
disrupting the employees’ normal work routines, but everyone whom I met with
seem honored that I took such an interest in their work, and were eager to
bestow their knowledge on me.

I really
enjoyed the rotational structure of the externship, since it allowed me to
observe a different department within the NBC Sports Group each day, in order
to get a feel for what each department did, how they collaborated, and which
was most in line with my skills and interests. By the end of the week, I was
able to conclude that a career in media marketing, either digital or linear
(television), is probably the most promising scenario for me, from the four
departments I observed. It seemed to involve the most creative thinking and writing/communication
skills, which I have acquired from my English and Film double majors, and Jeff
Carroll, the marketing director I met with on the first day, was an English
major as well at Lafayette College. He gave me some great tips on how I can
start to market myself as a writer to employers in the media and entertainment
industry. He has many writing and
entertainment contacts that he can connect me with as well, such as writers for
Saturday Night Live.

There were
many fun perks thrown into the five day externship experience, such as a lavish
dinner with Nick and some other NBC employees at a restaurant called The Palm,
the chance to meet individually with some employees who had experience working
in the entertainment sector of NBC, and just getting to explore the city on my
own. However, the best part of the externship, overall, is by far all the new
knowledge and experience I will take away from it, as well as multiple contacts
I can continue to communicate with for career advice and references. My
externship experience at NBC Universal was well worth my time, and I am so
grateful for everything I have gained from having participated in it!